Sochi chooses President and Olympic mascot

Voters going to the polls in the southern Russian city of Sochi have one more decision to make – choosing the mascot of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. It follows a citywide public campaign and Sochi's residents, especially its children, had som

They have to choose among Father Frost, a polar bear, and dolphin on skis.

The voting results will be announced shortly after polling day, and everyone who votes for a mascot will also have the chance to win a prize in the citywide lottery.

The city won the Olympic bid last summer. The 2014 Olympics will be the first winter games ever held in the subtropics.

A lot has to be done to prepare the infrastructure and to build dozens of new Olympic venues along the coast. But organisers feel that choosing the right mascot is an equally important task.